As is the norm for Romeo y Julieta premium cigars, the House of Montague is gorgeous. Every blend from Romeo y Julieta always bears an irresistible charm, especially with the distinctive parchment wrapper design on both Famous Smoke shop exclusives: the House of Montague and House of Capulet lines. I absolutely love the adornments on the Robusto that I smoked today — the translucent wrapper with intricate designs brings forth a regal appeal. The red and silver double bands complete the entire look of the cigar, making it even more captivating.
Once the parchment paper is torn back, it reveals an oily Brazilian Maduro wrapper with a tight seam and a pretty soft feel. Underneath the toothy wrapper, a Dominican Olor binder secures a premium blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Brazilian filler tobaccos. I spotted a few prominent veins as well as a small tear at the foot, but neither threatened to ruin the smoking experience.
After a swift clipping of the cap, the prelight aroma oozes a peppery mix of leather, cocoa, and cedar with a slight whiff of burnt toast. The cold draw mesmerized and rewarded my palate with succulent notes of cedar, wood, cocoa, and a very subtle tart flavor akin to dark plum. Upon sucking the cigar, I figured it has a perfect draw. This is all setting up to be an exciting smoking experience.
| Wrapper Origin: Connecticut | Shape: Robusto |
| Length: 5 | Ring: 52 |
| Wrapper: Broadleaf | List Price: $140 (Box of 20) |
| Origin: Nicaragua | Strength: Medium |
Pull of Cigar
After a swift clipping of the cap, the prelight aroma oozes a peppery mix of leather, cocoa, and cedar with a slight whiff of burnt toast. The cold draw mesmerized and rewarded my palate with succulent notes of cedar, wood, cocoa, and a very subtle tart flavor akin to dark plum. Upon sucking the cigar, I figured it has a perfect draw. This is all setting up to be an exciting smoking experience.
Taste
The first third of the cigar is swimming in earthy notes of wood and cedar. A spicy element of black pepper gives every draw an extra oomph. Abundant notes of cocoa display prominently with balanced amounts of sweetness, astringency, and bitterness. A subtle leathery essence lingers in the background, keeping the overall profile so effervescently intriguing.
The transitions of flavors are unbelievably smooth-like a masterful musician constantly segueing from one scale to another while I’m the fortunate spectator enraptured by the continuous flow of the piece.
As I move into the second third, the complexity of the cigar kicks into full tilt. An extra dose of black pepper spice and delightful flavor from the Brazilian Maduro wrapper invades the palate with a smooth, fleeting texture. A medium-bodied banquet of earth, nuts, and wood melds beautifully and consistently caresses the palate.
The leather notes did not relent throughout the journey but paired well with the surge of creaminess that comes through. The prelight aroma of toast reflects on the flavor profile as I neared the end of the second third, leaving a lingering touch of sweetness behind.
The strength of the cigar undergoes a slight trajectory during the final third, settling just above medium-bodied. The cigar slowly heats up and gives way to a delightful combination of cream and dark plum. I was ready for the cigar to get unbearably hot towards the nub. But instead of heading towards a harsh and bitter end, the blend effortlessly drifts to a silky-smooth finish.
Overall
Overall, the Romeo y Julieta House of Montague provided a stellar smoking experience — a real pleasure trove of a cigar. While the tobacco had a small amount of jaggedness on the char line, I had no burn issues, touch-ups, or re-lights during the entirety of the smoking pleasure. The construction was also great, resulting in light gray ash with minor flaking.
The low price and impeccably complex profile of the House of Montague make it an ideal cigar to puff on at any time of the day. I can definitely see myself keeping a stash in my humidor for future smoking encounters. I have smoked countless Romeo y Julieta stogies, and I will say that this is one of their most impressive blends. This was a memorable smoking experience that transitioned smoothly through a range of mouthwatering flavors that left me contemplating on firing up a second stick. It will not surprise me if it’s every smoker’s go-to Romeo cigar. With that said, I give this a 90-point rating.
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Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta
Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta is the product of a great collaboration between Rafael Nodal, Altadis USA, and AJ Fernandez. These are the most prestigious brands when it comes to premium handmade cigars. The Romeo San Andrés blend includes a dark and oily San Andrés wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and perfectly aged Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers. It’s a bold, spicy, and earthy cigar with a Cuban character. It will suit well with any beginner in cigar smoking or the die-hard old fans of Romeo y Julieta.
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Robusto
The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Robusto is a medium-bodied, full-flavored cigar with its visually appealing brown wrapper and blue and gold band. Its unique flavor profile starts with aromas of candied strawberries, leather, and coffee and a spicy cold draw. Upon lighting, it reveals layers of sweetness, cedar, and earth, transitioning into mineral and tobacco notes with hints of cream, pepper, peanuts, and lavender, particularly noticeable in the retro-hale. The experience culminates in a subtle evolution to wheat and nutty nuances. Despite mixed opinions, the review of Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Robusto celebrates its careful construction, diverse flavors, and rewarding smoking journey, meriting a rating of 90 and an $8.77 price point.
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Crux Epicure Robusto
Crux Cigars, renowned for their high-quality offerings, has another hit with the Crux Epicure Robusto, a product they’ve dubbed their “crown jewel.” This cigar features an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper and a rich blend of Nicaraguan fillers, delivering a mellow strength profile. Aesthetically pleasing with its light tan wrapper and striking band design, the cigar promises an indulgent experience, starting with enticing aromas of lemongrass, white pepper, and cedar. Initial puffs reveal notes of white pepper and bread, evolving to include a creamy taste influenced by the shade-grown wrapper, complemented by nuances of sweet nougat, cereal, and fruity sweetness. The smoking experience is further enhanced by a rich, smooth smoke, a consistently sharp burn, and flavors that build to a satisfying complexity, featuring notes of creamy coffee, cereal grain, and toast in the final third. The Crux Epicure Robusto impresses with its quality, flavor complexity, and solid construction, making it an ideal choice for both new and seasoned smokers, thereby earning a well-deserved 92-point rating in this review of Crux Epicure Robusto.
Vudu San Andres Robusto
The Vudu San Andres Robusto, crafted by master-blender Jesus Fuego, is an affordable yet quality cigar under the Vudu brand exclusive to Famous Smoke Shop. This Robusto, known for its sleek presentation and stylish black-and-gold band featuring a skull design, boasts a rich Mexican San Andres wrapper that combines Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar impresses with its smooth draw, even burn, and solid structure, exuding complex flavors that include notes of spice, coffee, wood, toast, citrus, earthy leather, cedar, and subtle hints of cocoa, all maintaining a consistent earthy theme. Though not unique in flavor, its well-balanced profile, excellent construction, and smooth finish make it an enjoyable smoke, earning it a high rating in this review of Vudu San Andres Robusto.
